6 h. ago Bid to reach world's first plastic pollution treaty ends in failure after 10

The consequence of the failed talks is devastating, as it leaves no clear path for nations to collectively address the mountains of plastic that are filling landfills.

Events

20 h. ago UN plastic pollution talks end in ‘abject failure’ as negotiators reject draft treaties

Despite three years of negotiations, delegates failed to agree on whether it should stop the growth of plastic production and regulate harmful chemicals internationally

Events

20 h. ago UN plastic pollution talks fail again with negotiators rejecting draft treaties

Delegates were seeking to complete a legally binding international agreement during a 10-day conference in Geneva, Switzerland.

Events

22 h. ago Plastic pollution talks fail as negotiators in Geneva reject draft treaties

Countries deadlocked on whether legally binding deal should include curbs on production and toxic chemicalsOnce again negotiators will leave the plastic summit this week without a treaty, having failed to reach agreement in what was supposed to have been the final round of talks.The delegates, who were attempting to complete a crucial treaty to end the plastic pollution crisis remain deadlocked over whether it should reduce exponential growth of plastic production and put global, legally binding controls on toxic chemicals used to make plastics. Continue reading...

Events

28 h. ago New draft of plastic pollution treaty doesn't limit production but calls for a global response

The latest draft of a treaty to end plastic pollution would not put a limit on producing plastics, but recognizes that current levels of production and consumption are “unsustainable” and global action is needed

Politics

34 h. ago Countries urged to ‘hold the line’ in Geneva plastics treaty negotiations

Talks continue amid warnings from environmental groups over being ‘sold out’ without meaningful or legally binding measuresTalks between nations to hammer out a plastics treaty to end plastic pollution continued behind closed doors in Geneva on Thursday, the final day of negotiations, as civil society groups urged countries to “hold the line” to secure a strong agreement.With time running out to seal a deal between 184 countries, environmental groups expressed concern that frontline communities, Indigenous people and others suffering the worst impacts of the world’s growing plastic crisis were being “sold out” in an effort to secure a treaty, without meaningful or legally binding measures that would address the scale of the problem, “at any cost”. Continue reading...

Politics

40 h. ago Countries deadlocked on plastic production and chemicals as talks on a global treaty draw to a close

Negotiations on a global treaty to end plastic pollution are drawing to a close Thursday

Events

58 h. ago Talks stall on world’s first plastic pollution treaty one day before deadline

Almost 100 countries reject draft treaty as ‘unambitious’ and ‘inadequate’Talks on the world’s first legally binding treaty to end plastic pollution have stalled just one day before the negotiations are due to end.Some of the countries calling for an ambitious treaty to include targets to reduce plastic production, including Colombia, the EU and the UK, have rejected as “unacceptable” and “unambitious” a draft treaty text that does not include production caps, nor address chemicals used in plastic products. Continue reading...

Events

62 h. ago New draft of plastic pollution treaty would not limit plastic production

Negotiators working on a treaty to address the global crisis of plastic pollution are discussing a new draft of the text that would not limit plastic production or address chemicals used in plastic products

Politics

66 h. ago Soap, wristbands and scaling the UN: People get creative during final plastic pollution treaty talks

A Swiss ocean protection group is handing out bars of soap to negotiators working on a global accord to end plastic pollution

Sport

3 d. ago Groups seek to influence plastic pollution treaty talks at the UN as negotiations wind down

Environmentalists and Indigenous leaders held signs in front of the United Nations buildings in Geneva where talks for a global accord to end plastic pollution are taking place

Politics

4 d. ago We expected dominance but Peak China may finally have arrived | George Magnus

The technological and strategic brilliance of its world-class companies are being swamped by macroeconomic troublesProclamations about the inevitability of China’s dominance of the global economic system, or the so-called Chinese century, are much less validated by contemporary Trumpian angst than what should be the Communist party’s appeal to its intrinsic values and virtues.Common concerns about coercive politics and human rights aside, some notions of China as an unstoppableeconomic, technological and military behemoth sit alongside others focused more on an increasingly sclerotic, over- centralised political economy, that depends on wasteful economic stimulus, and features poor governance and institutions. The fusion of these notions suggests that we may already have reached “peak China”. Continue reading...

Politics

4 d. ago Artist drowns sculpture in plastic waste in front of the UN during plastic pollution treaty talks

As nations began a second week of negotiations Monday for a global accord to end plastic pollution, an artist heaped piles of plastic waste onto a large sculpture in front of the United Nations office

Events

9 d. ago Top Girl Dog Names 2025: Here are the world's 10 most popular girl puppy names

If you’re poised to get a cuddly new puppy but can’t decide what to call it, here’s some inspiration from the global family of dog breed owners.

Politics

9 d. ago Top Dachshund Dog Names 2025: Here are the 10 most popular sausage dog puppy names in the world

If you’re poised to get a new Dachshund pup but can’t decide what to call it, here’s some inspiration from the global family of dog parents.

Politics

1 week ago UN plastic pollution talks must result in ambitious treaty, leading expert says

Professor Richard Thompson, a marine litter expert, says delegates must act decisively to ‘look next generation in the eye’Delegates at the UN plastic pollution treaty talks in Geneva must secure an ambitious global agreement so they can look future generations in the eye, one of the world’s leading marine litter experts has said.Prof Richard Thompson, who was named one of Time’s 100 most influential people this year for his groundbreaking work on plastic pollution, said decisive action was needed to protect human health and the planet. Continue reading...

Politics

1 week ago Nations will try again on plan to confront world's 'spiraling' plastic pollution mess

Nations gather in Geneva Tuesday for what many hope will be the final meeting to craft a landmark treaty to end the plastic pollution crisis that affects every ecosystem and person on the planet

Politics

1 week ago Countries under pressure to finalise UN plastic pollution treaty as talks resume

Countries are meeting in Geneva, Switzerland, where they will hope to break a deadlock in talks for a legally binding agreement on plastics.

Events